Spirit Airlines Puerto Rico flights open opportunities for low-cost travelers to celebrate the Caribbean paradise’s vibrant cultural experience and natural treasures. Recently, it has bolstered its presence in the Island of Enchantment by adding new routes from San Juan and increasing frequencies to key markets.
The unincorporated and organized US territory of Puerto Rico is the number 1 Caribbean destination in Spirit Airlines’ route network. The Minamar-based carrier has cultivated the Puerto Rico market for over two decades. The low-fare airline holds a fair share in Puerto Rico with flight operations in all three major airports. Spirit Airlines is now the second-largest operator of flights from Puerto Rico to the US mainland, behind JetBlue Airways.
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Spirit’s top Caribbean destination is now more accessible than ever for guests across the US, with nonstop flights from 16 cities. You can enjoy an affordable yet worthwhile vacation on this fabulous Caribbean getaway by booking Spirit Airlines Puerto Rico flights. Spirit Airlines offers great deals on travel, so you can go all-out on your holiday with the savings you score on cheap airfares. Thanks to Spirit’s strong network, one can easily sneak off to Puerto Rico for the weekend or connect with friends and families there.
Spirit Airlines Puerto Rico: Airports served
Spirit Airlines serves all three airports in Puerto Rico (San Juan, Ponce, and Aguadilla) as a prominent carrier. It has a sizeable presence at Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU) and moves around 1.6 million passengers annually through this airport. It is the second-largest airline at SJU, with more than 16% passenger market share. The ultra-low-cost carrier carries 21 daily departures from San Juan to 13 mainland routes (including five new routes).
Away from the San Juan capital, Spirit Airlines serves the southern coast of Puerto Rico through Mercedita International Airport (PSE). PSE is Puerto Rico’s third-largest airport by passenger movement and is served by three US carriers, including Spirit. Mercedita Airport accommodates Spirit Airlines’ flights from Orlando, Florida. The Florida-based LCC occupies around 32% of the market share at this airport, ferrying over 66000 passengers annually.
Likewise, Spirit Airlines’ Puerto Rico route map also covers Rafael Hernandez Airport (BQN) in Aguadilla. The airport handles the second-largest passenger movements in Puerto Rico and has the presence of 4 major US passenger carriers. Spirit Airlines doesn’t have as extensive flight offerings from BQN as SJU. It connects Aguadilla nonstop to its operating bases in Fort Lauderdale and Orlando.
Spirit Airlines Puerto Rico flights from San Juan
Among three airports in Puerto Rico, Spirit Airlines has the largest footprint at Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, San Juan. Lying three miles southeast of San Juan, SJU Airport is the primary gateway to the Caribbean. As the busiest airport in the Caribbean region, it handles more than 10 million scheduled commercial passengers every year. Spirit Airlines is one of the most prominent carriers at SJU, offering nonstop connections to 13 US cities.
In May 2023, the carrier broadened its SJU network by launching daily, nonstop flights to Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, and Detroit. The route addition was accompanied by increased frequencies to key markets like Baltimore, Fort Lauderdale, and Newark. The recent expansion at SJU Airport is the latest move in Spirit’s ongoing effort to build an alluring brand in the Caribbean region.
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On June 7, the carrier launched its first-ever nonstop service between Bradley International Airport, Hartford, and San Juan. Spirit’s four-hour-long flights from Hartford will take off at 9:30 pm thrice weekly on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
This gives customers an increased choice for affordable travel between two cities year-round. With the introduction of new, low-cost flights to San Juan, Hartford guests can now easily explore the sun-kissed Caribbean paradise.
The low-cost giant currently serves the following routes from San Juan:
Destinations Flight frequency Competing airline
Atlanta (ATL) Daily Delta Air Lines
Baltimore (BWI) 2 times a day Southwest Airlines
Boston (BOS) Daily Delta, JetBlue
Chicago (ORD) Daily American, United
Dallas (DFW) Daily American Airlines
Detroit (DTW) Daily Delta Air Lines
Fort Lauderdale (FLL) Twice a day JetBlue, Southwest
Hartford (BDL) Thrice a day Frontier Airlines
Miami (MIA) Daily American, Frontier
Newark (EWR) Twice a day United, JetBlue
Orlando (MCO) Five times a day Frontier, JetBlue
Philadelphia (PHL) Daily American, Frontier
Tampa (TPA) Daily Southwest,
Spirit Airlines faces competition on its entire 13 new and existing San Juan routes. Yet, it holds a fair share in most routes due to low fares and strong connectivity options.
At one point, SJU Airport was a hub for Dallas-based American Airlines, offering key regional connections across the Caribbean. But the carrier officially closed down its hub operation in San Juan in 2013 as a part of its network restructuring.
Among all routes as mentioned above, Orlando-San Juan is the most-served segment with five daily flight frequencies. Spirit Airlines uses a mix of Airbus A320 and A321 flights to operate a 3-hour flight from SJU to MCO. Customers traveling on this route can enjoy the convenience of in-flight Wi-Fi by paying certain bucks.
Spirit’s newly added flights from San Juan to Atlanta, Dallas, Detroit, and Chicago have the following schedules:
San Juan/Atlanta: Leave SJU at 4:00 pm and arrive in ATL at 7:53 pm; flight duration-3 hours 53 minutes (return flight-11:30 am- 3:08 pm, 3 hours 38 minutes)
San Juan/Dallas: Depart SJU at 12:50 pm and arrive in DFW at 4:55 pm; flight duration-5 hours 5 minutes (return flight-6:00 am-11:54 am, 4 hours 54 minutes)
San Juan/Detroit: Depart SJU at 12:55 pm and arrive in DTW at 5:49 pm; flight duration-4 hour 54 minutes (return flight-7:30 am -12:00 pm, 4 hours 30 minutes)
San Juan/Chicago: Leave SJU at 2:11 pm and arrive in ORD at 6:19 pm; flight duration-5 hours 8 minutes (return flight-7:30-1:15 pm, 4 hours 45 minutes)
Flights from Aguadilla
Florida’s low-cost Spirit Airlines operates a few Puerto Rico flights from Rafael Hernandez Airport in Aguadilla. More than half a million passengers use BQN Airport for departure or arrival in Puerto Rico. While Spirit has minimal Aguadilla routes in comparison to San Juan’s, it is still the second-largest carrier at BQN. Spirit customers can connect directly to Fort Lauderdale and Orlando from Aguadilla.
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Previously, the ULCC offered four times weekly flights on the Philadelphia (PHL) and Aguadilla (BQN) routes. The carrier launched service on this new city pair on April 20, 2022, intending to entice travelers seeking vacation getaways in the Caribbean. Unfortunately, it pulled out the PHL-BQN route from its network in November 2022 due to operational hiccups and ATC delays.
- Spirit Airlines’ Aguadilla-Fort Lauderdale flight details
Spirit Airlines Flight NK374 leaves BQN at 9:50 pm and arrives at BQN at 12:20 am. It uses Airbus A319 aircraft to perform this 2-hour 30-minute flight.
The return flight NK371 takes off from BQN at 6: 10 pm and touches down at BQN at 8: 40 pm.
- Spirit Airlines’ Aguadilla-Orlando flight details
Flight NK1900 operates the 2-hour 55min-long journey between BQN and MCO, leaving Aguadilla at 10:55 pm and landing in Orlando at 1:50 am.
The return flight bears code NK1899. Departing MCO at 7:05 pm, the A319 jet flies nonstop for 2 hours 47 minutes before landing at BQN at 9:52 pm.
Flights from Ponce
A handful of Spirit Airlines Puerto Rico flights land at Mercedita Airport in Ponce. The Miramar-headquartered ULCC operates only one route from the southern coast of Puerto Rico. Passengers can find Spirit’s direct flights between Orlando International Airport and Mercedita International Airport.
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Spirit Airlines added Ponce as its third market in Puerto Rico in 2022, with a launch of daily service from MCO effective February 16. The new, nonstop service caters well to leisure travelers as well as the vibrant and thriving Puerto Rican community in Central Florida.
Several years back, i.e., in 2007/8, Spirit Airlines used to operate Ponce-Fort Lauderdale flights. The route remains unserved, with no direct flight offerings by any carrier.
Spirit Airlines flight (NK 3027) from Ponce to Orlando leaves daily at 3:37 pm and arrives at the destination at 6: 51pm. The Airbus A319 aircraft completes the flight journey in 3 hours 14 minutes.
Likewise, the return flight NK has a scheduled departure at 1150 AM. The aircraft flies nonstop for 2 hours and 52 minutes before arriving in Ponce at 2: 42 pm.
Spirit Airlines Puerto Rico flight offerings-Bottom Line
Spirit Airlines is a dominant carrier in the island territory’s aviation market. It is the second-largest operator in Puerto Rico regarding destinations served, seats sold, and available seat miles.
It first entered the island in 2001 by operating San Juan flights and has since expanded its Puerto Rico presence with services to Aguadilla and Ponce. Currently, it offers 16 nonstop routes between the US mainland and Puerto Rico’s three main airports. The carrier is committed to serving the Puerto Rican community and making travel easier than ever to/from the island.
